I Wake Up Screaming is an engaging whodunnit told initially in a non-linear style through interviews, in which everyone appears to be a suspect, even perhaps those trying to solve the case. It cuts right to the chase, in fact, the victim is already dead when the film begins.

As far as themes go, the film does deal with two or three intertwined themes that are perhaps more pertinent now than they were then. It illustrates the importance of the media, not necessarily talent, in shaping and also perhaps destroying celebrities. It tangentially discusses narcissism and the personality warping effect of having fame thrust upon you, rather than earning it. It doesn’t dwell on these themes however. This film is fairly quickly paced in fact, and doesn’t waste much time. At a mere, according to IMDB, 82 minutes in length, this movie really moves.

The tone of this film feels unique, and depending on the audience it can arguably be perceived as oddly engaging or perhaps frustrating and disjointed. It not only deals with a murder but other stereotypically twisted noir themes and plot points, yet it comes across as light, fun and chipper for the vast majority of its running time. It has moments of menace too, but most of the movie is downright cheerful. This reviewer kind of liked this imbalance. It was sort of refreshing and endearing, though some may scratch their heads, especially if it is compared to other well known noir films.

The darker moments come from two excellent actors. As far as performances go Laird Cregar and Elisha Cook Jr. really stand out amongst the otherwise perfectly adequate performances in this film. Elisha Cook Jr., is always a scene stealer with memorable roles in many great film classics including, but not limited to, The Maltese Falcon (which happened to be released the same year as I Wake Up Screaming), The Big Sleep, Shane, The Killing, and Rosemary’s Baby. He is perfect in this film, as he often is. Unfortunately, you don’t see much of him, which is true of a lot of his characters. It isn’t surprising Elisha Cook Jr. worked in television and movies from the early 1930s to the late 1980s. The other performance really worth noting is that of Laird Cregar, who tragically didn’t have a similarly long career due to a radical diet that ultimately resulted in his death at the young age of 31. Laird Cregar is really remarkable as a creepy and intimidating detective despite his soft voice and pudgy face. He single handedly provides all the gravitas in this picture.

Part of what makes Cregar’s performance so ominous is the way he is shot. This film may seem run-of-the-mill at first glance, but stylistically it makes really good use of shadows, canted angles, and music. Whether or not these touches are consciously noticed or they just seep in to the brain, they have an impressive effect on the viewer and they serve to add to the impressive nature to this compact and fact paced film. While watching it, pay attention to the use of lighting, especially in regards to Laird Cregar’s performance.

While it isn’t of the same caliber as Laura or Citizen Kane, it could be compared in some aspects to both films. A fan of those two films and films from this era or genre will especially enjoy this wonderful little pseudo-film noir.

What’s with the weird title given the subject matter? I guess this was a rushed second choice to the original (Red Harvest) because they didn’t want any confusion with Daishell Hammett’s popular novel by the same name which had been published just three years prior. To be honest, if this wasn’t Hopkins in a steamy Pre-Code film, I probably wouldn’t have watched it after reading the synopsis. MH plays a Tsarist aristocrat on the lam with some of her contemporaries. The setting is during the 1919 Russian Revolution and the Red Brigade is looking to execute any of the monied classes of the current regime. They manage to narrowly escape via a train car to a safer city behind the skirmish line. Once settled, the privileged waste no time resuming their nonstop lifestyle characterized by black-tie dinners and the consumption of copious amounts of expensive wine and fine foods.

Kylenko (George Bancroft) is the leader of the Resistance and he and his minions descend on all this decadence with other ideas in mind. They crash the glamorous upper class setting and vulgarly grab the food right off people’s plates and brazenly mock the entitled. There is mayhem with frightened diners running everywhere. Except for Maria (Miriam Hopkins). She defiantly stays at her table and stubbornly orders the ruffians out of the establishment. The mob find her insolence under the circumstances humorous and Bancroft’s imposing soldier takes an immediate interest in the sexy aristocrat. He learns later that Maria was not born into wealth but managed to maneuver the class waters between the wage-earner and privileged sectors of Russian society. The Brigade takes its prisoners on a ship set to sail for a Revolutionary stronghold, where their captives will face trial for their lives.

Hopkins’ character and her friends realize that they must somehow get the ship turned around and headed to a friendly port along the Crimean coastline. They devise a plan to fool the navigator by messing with the ship’s compass so that it will display the opposite direction that the vessel is actually traveling. There’s just one problem: they need a diversion and her name is Maria. She pretends to have come to her senses and confesses to Kylenko that she knows her place is alongside her people. To prove her newfound loyalty, Maria makes it clear that she will sleep with him as a gesture of earnestness. The viewer witnesses some pretty intense Pre-Code moments when the elegant Ms. Yaskaya looks doomed to service this sweaty cad.

I was quite surprised when I saw the quality of this picture. The performances of the headliners are excellent and this happy outcome is in no small matter due to Cromwell’s deft handling of two tremendous egos. Bancroft’s temper was legendary and we’ve already covered Hopkins’ endless demand for retakes. The double entendres used by Hopkins are exquisite in their Pre-Code sumptuousness. There is another great scene where she continues to play the piano as if she hasn’t a care in the world while everything around her is in chaos.